Rotary fluid motor



March 21, 1950 M. c. SEARLE ROTARY FLUID MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1945 INVENTOR w B M W C m M w,

ATTORN EYS March 21, 1950 c, sEARLE 2,501,009

I ROTARY'FLUID MOTOR Filed Sept. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Zfzz VILLE Cf 62mm];

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY FLUID MOTOR Melville C. Searle, San Francisco, Calif. Application September 11, 1945, Serial No. 615,590

9 Claims. 1

An object of my invention is to provide a rotary fluid motor in which a reciprocating action is converted into a rotary movement without the need of using pistons, connecting rods, and a crankshaft. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which applies sufiicient force to a rotating member to cause the member to rotate slowly. This overcomes the necessity of using gear reducing mechanisms, clutches, etc., between a reciprocating engine and the shaft or other member which is to be rotated slowly.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that is simple in construction and small and compact in size and shape and can readily be housed within a drum which is to be rotated. This adapts the device to be used in a lifting hoist. The device can be operated by any fluid under pressure and with this arrangement flexible conduits can extend from the prime mover to a control station where an operator can control the operation of the device from a remote point and therefore need not use the customary multiplicity of levers, clutches, gear reducing mechanisms, which are now required to operatively connect an engine with a drum and to cause the drum to rotate at a slower speed than the engine.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a hoisting drum shown housing my rotary fluid motor;

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1, portions being broken away to show the various operating parts of the rotary fluid motor;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure l is a transverse section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows the stationary valve plate;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 3 and shows the rotary valve plate; and

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken along the line 6-5 of Figure 3 and shows one of the stators.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invenion.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a frame indicated generally at A in Figure l. The frame is shown in the shape of a yoke and it may be attached to the boom of a derrick if desired. The frame can be of any shape and may be stationary and I do not Wish to be confined to the particular use to which the frame is put. The frame carries a hollow shaft B that extends between the frame sides I and 2. In Figure 4 I show the hollow shaft B provided with flattened end portions 3 and these end portions enter an openin 4 formed in each frame side i and 2. When the shaft is placed in the openings 4 in the frame sides I and 2, the shaft will be held against rotation because the openings 4 have flattened portions contacting the flattened shaft ends 3.

Adjacent to the inner surfaces of the frame sides I and 2, I dispose stationary valve plates C and D. The valve plates have openings 5 that have fiat portions 5a for receiving the fiat portions 3 of the shaft 13. The valve plates 0 and D are held against rotation with respect to the frame sides due to this structure and if desired the valve plates may be secured to the frame sides by screws or other suitable fastening means, none being shown. Figure 4 shows the inner face of the stationary valve plate D and it will be seen that the inner face 6 has two circular grooves l and 8 that are arranged concentric with each other and to the shaft axis. The groove 7 communicates with an inlet port 9, see Figure 3, whil the groove 8 communicates with an outlet port Ill.

The stationary valve C likewise has annular grooves l and 8 and inlet and outlet ports 9 and II], respectively. Liquid or gas under pressure when admitted into the inlet ports 9, will deliver the liquid or gas to the grooves l in the station-. ary valve plates C and D. I provide rotary valve plates E and F that are arranged adjacent to the stationary valve plates C and D, respectively, and have arcuate inlet and outlet ports ii and 52, respectively, that register with the circular grooves I and 8. Reference to Figure 5 shows the outer face of the rotary valve plate E.

The rotating valves E and F contact with the adjacent faces of the stationary valves C and D and also rotate with respect to stators G and H that are disposed between the valves E and F. The stators are cylindrical in shape and are keyed to the shaft B so as to be held against rotation. The inner face of each stator is provided with V-shaped corrugations as shown in Figure 6 for the stator G. I have shown four V-shaped grooves extending radially from th axis of the shaft B although the number may be changed at will. The low points i l of the grooves all he in the same plane which extends at right angles to the axis of the shaft B. The high points disposed between the adjacent grooves also lie in a single plane which is parallel to the first mentioned plane and which extends at rig angles to the shaft axis. The grooves have clined faces I! and is that act as wedge surfaces in a manner hereinafter described.

The other stator H has similar V-shaped grooves and therefore like reference numerals will be applied to similar parts. Figure 3 shows the high points 45 of the adjacent stators G and H disposed opposite each other and spaced a sufficient distance apart to receive a rotor of a particular shape and indicated generally at J.

The rotor J has V-shaped corrugations on both sides and similar in size and shape to the V- shaped grooves in the stators so that the V-shaped corrugations on both faces of the rotor are adapted to be snugly received in the V-shaped grooves of the stators, but it will be noted that when the rotor is received in the grooves of the stator I-I, it is out of the grooves in the stator G, and vice versa. Furthermore, the arrangement of the two stators is such that the rotor must be rotated through an are before the rotor grooves can register with the grooves of the stator G. The stators carry inlet and outlet ducts 25 and 26 that extend from the surfaces ll and Hi to the stator sides at positions where they will be in a position to register with the rotary valve plates E and F in proper sequence.

If now the adjacent surfaces I841, and 26a of the stator H and rotor J, respectively, have a fluid forced therebetween by the registering of the passage 25 with the arcuate slot H on the rotary valve F, see Figure 2, the surface 2M will be moved away from the surface i8a. The surf-ace 23a on the opposite side of the rotor will be moved into contact with the surface I'la of the stator G and will ride over this surface in much the same manner as a cam follower is moved over a cam. The inclined surface Ha will cause the rotor to rotate through an are equal to the distance between the high point IE on the stator G and the following low point It. This will bring the face 24a, of the rotor, disposed opposite to the face a, into contact with the next surface lab of the stator G. The rotor will be moved laterally as well as rotated.

As soon as this takes place, fluid under pres sure can be admitted between the opposed sur face Ila of the stator G and 23a. of the rotor J, which has now moved into opposed position, and will move the surface 23a away from the surface (1a. The rotor will be rotated and moved later ally to the right in Figure 3. The next surface Zilb of the rotor will now be disposed opposite to the surface l8a of the stator H. The rotary valves E and F rotate in unison with the rotor because they are connected together in a manner presently to be described. The valves will therefore alternately place opposite sides of the rotor under pressure from the fluid. The result is a lateral movement of the rotor on the shaft B and a continual rotational movement of the rotor around the shaft.

The inlet ports 1 l in the rotary valve plate F not only register with the annular groove 1, but also register with the inlet bores 25 in the stator l-I. Each bore 25 leads to an orifice 25a, see Figure 6,

that is centrally disposed on each face H. The exhaust ports 52 in the rotary plate valve F register with the circular groove 8 and also register with exhaust bores 26 that have their orifices 25a centrally disposed on the faces it The stator G likewise has inlet and outlet bores 25 and 28 that are opened and closed in proper sequence by the rotary valve plate E.

In Figure 3 I show how the rotary valve plates E and F are connected to the rotor D so as to rotate therewith. The rotor has a cylindrical sleeve 2i that reciprocates on the cylindrical surfaces of the stators G and H and also rotates around the stators. A drum K may be splined to the sleeve Zl so as to be rotated by the sleeve while the sleeve rotates and reciprocates. In place of the splines, rollers may be used and I have shown rollers 28 secured to the sleeve by screws 28a or other suitable means and receivable in longitudinally extending channels or guides 23 that are formed on the inner cylindrical surface of the drum K. The drum has openings 3'5 through which the screws may be passed when securing the rollers 28 to the sleeve 2?. Screws 39, or other suitable fastening means, are used for securing the ends of the drum to the rotary valve plates E and P so that a rotation of the rotor D will rotate the sleeve 2?, the drum K and the valve plates E and F.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

If a fluid is admitted under pressure through a hose (H, see Figure 1, intothe inlet port 9 by the opening of a valve 32, the fluid will flow into the circular groove 1. The rotary valve F will convey the fluid through arcuate ports H to inlet bores 25 and the fluid will leave the bores at the inner ends 250, and will strike the adjacent surface lta of the rotor D for moving the rotor laterally. The rotor surface 23a will contact with the surface lla of the stator G and will transfer the lateral movement into a rotative movement. The fluid trapped in the space between the rotor D and the stator G will pass out through the exhaust ports 25 in the stator and be carried to exhaust openings l2 provided in the rotary valve plate E. From here the exhaust fluid will flow into the exhaust circular passage 8 in the stationary valve C and be conveyed to the exhaust port i0 disposed on the frame side i.

As soon as the rotor D completes its movement to the left in Figure 3 and also in a rotary manner, the rotary surface 24a will contact with the surface 13b of the stator G. A new set of inlets i i on the rotary valve plate E will come into registration with the inlet bores 25 on the stator G and will convey the fluid under pressure from a hose 33 to the side 23a of the rotor which is now in registration with the stator surface Ho. The fluid under pressure flowing from the hose 33 will pass a valve 34 which has been opened and will enter the inlet 9 on the side i of the frame. The fluid trapped between the rotor D and the stator H during this movement of the rotor to the right will be conveyed through the outlet openings 25 in the stator, the outlet slots 12 in the rotary valve F, the circular groove 8 in the stationary valve D, and thence out through the outlet ill in the side 2 of the frame.

Thus far I have described how alternate reciprocations of the rotor D will cause the rotor to rotate and this rotation will rotate the sleeve 2'! and the drum K. If air is used the exhaust ports it may exhaust into the atmosphere, but if another gas or liquid is used, the exhaust ports [0 may be connected to a return pipe, not shown, which will convey the gas or liquid back to a power source which will again force the gas or liquid under pressure into the hoses BI and 33. Although I have described the fluid pressure as acting against one face of the rotor, it is obvious that all similarly inclined faces on the same side of the rotor will be similarly acted upon by the fluid.

Where it is desired to reverse the rotation of the drum K, it is merely necessary to force the fluid into the pipes it and exhaust the fluid from the pipes 9. The rotary valves E and F cooperating with the stators G and H provide the proper timing for the fluid. In case a load is being lifted by the drum K and the drum has a tendency to rotate in a direction opposite to that in which it is being rotated by the fluid, I may use valves 35 and 36 on the exhaust ports ill to control the exhausting of the fluid so that the fluid will not exhaust too rapidly from the compartments formed between the rotor D and the stator. If the trapped fluid is permitted to escape slowly from the compartments and if the fluid pressure at the inlets 9 is constantly at maximum, the controlled exhaust will control the amount of fluid entering the inlet and will cause the rotor to continue to rotate in the right direction.

I claim:

1. A rotary fluid motor comprising a pair of spaced apart and axially aligned stators having V-shaped and radially extending grooves on their opposed faces, the high points of the grooves in the two stators being disposed opposite to each other a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, said stators having inlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the same outer stator faces to the other inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, a rotatable valve plate disposed at the outer face of each stator, means connecting the valve plates to the rotor so as to rotate therewith, and means for delivering a fluid under pressure to the valve plates, the latter opening the inlet passages in proper sequence for causing the rotor to reciprocate, the inclined rotor portions contacting with the adjacent inclined stator portions for imparting a rotative movement to the rotor, the valve plates also opening the outlet passages in proper sequence for permitting the fluid that has moved the rotor from one stator to the other to escape.

2. In a rotary fluid motor including a pair of cylindrical stators having a common axis and being spaced apart, the opposed stator faces hav ing V-shaped and radially extending grooves with the high points of the grooves being disposed opposite to each other, a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, a sleeve integral with the rotor periphery and being slidably and rotatably mounted on the stator peripheries, said stators having inlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to the remaining inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, a rotatable valve plate disposed at the outer face of each stator, a rotatable member enclosing the sleeve and connected thereto so as to be rotated thereby,

said rotatable member also being connected to the valve plates, and means for delivering a fluid under pressure to the valve plates, the latter opening the inlet and outlet passages in propersequence as the valve plates are rotated by the rotatable member for causing the rotor to reciprocate, the inclined rotor portions contacting with the adjacent inclined stator portions for imparting a rotative movement to the rotor.

3. In a rotary fluid motor including a pair of cylindrical stators having a common axis and being spaced apart, the opposed stator faces hav ing V-shaped and radially extending grooves with the high points of the grooves being disposed opposite to each other, a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, a sleeve integral with the rotor periphery and being slidably and rotata-bly mounted on the stator peripheries, said stators having inlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to the remaining inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, a rotatable valve plate disposed at the outer face of each stator, a rotatable member enclosing the sleeve and connected thereto soas to be rotated thereby, said rotatable member also being connected to the valve plates, and means for delivering a fluid under pressure to the valve plates, the latter opening the inlet and outlet passages in proper sequence as the valve plates are rotated by the rotatable member for causing the rotor to reciprocate, the inclined rotor portions contacting with the adjacent inclined stator portions for imparting a rotative movement to the rotor, said fluid delivering means including stationary valve plates contacting the rotary valve plates, each stationary valve plate having a circular inlet groove and a circular outlet groove, said rotary valve plates having openings communicating with the grooves and with the stator inlet and outlet passages in proper sequence, said fluid delivering means also including valve controlled inlet pipes .1

communicating with the inlet grooves.

4. In a rotary fluid motor including a pair of cylindrical stators having a common axis and being spaced apart, the opposed stator faces having V-shaped and radially extending grooves with the high points of the grooves being disposed opposite to each other, a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, a sleeve integral with the rotor periphery and being slidably and rotatably mounted on the stator peripheries, said stators having inlet passages lead ing from the outer stator faces to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to the remaining inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, a rotatable valve plate disposed at the outer face of each stator, a rotatable member enclosing the sleeve and connected thereto so as to be rotated thereby, said rotatable member also being connected to the valve plates, means for delivering a fluid under pressure to the valve plates, the latter opening the inlet and outlet passages in proper sequence as the valve plates are rotated by the rotatable member for causing the rotor to reciprocate, the inclined rotor portions contacting with the adjacent inclined stator portions for imparting a rotative movement to the rotor, said fluid delivering means including stationary valve plates contacting the rotary valve plates, each stationary valve plate having a circular inlet groove and a. circular outlet groove, said rotary valve plates having openingscommunicating with the grooves and with the stator inlet and outlet passages in proper sequence, said fluid delivering means also including valve controlled inlet pipes communicating with the inlet grooves, and valve controlled outlet pipes communicating with the outlet grooves.

In a rotary fluid motor including a pair of cylindrical stators having a common axis and being-spaced apart, the opposed stator faces having: ll-shaped and radially extending grooves with the high points of the grooves being disposed opposite to each other, a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, a sleeve integral with the rotor periphery and being slidably and rotatably mounted on the stator peripheries, said stators having inlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to the remaining inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, a rotatable valve plate disposed at the outer face of each stator, a rotatable member enclosing the sleeve and connected thereto so as to be rotated thereby, said rotatable member also being connected to the valve plates, and means for delivering a fluid under pressure to the valve plates, the latter opening the inlet and outlet passages in proper sequence as the valve plates are rotated by the rotatable member for causing the rotor to reciprocate, the inclined rotor portions contacting with the adjacent inclined stator portions for imparting a rotative movement to the rotor, the means connecting the sleeve to the rotatable member including longitudinally extending grooves on the inner surface of the rotatable member and projections on the sleeve and slidaoly receivable in the grooves.

6.. In a rotary fluid motor including a pair of cylindrical stators having a common axis and being spaced apart, the opposed stator faces having V-shaped and radially extending grooves with the high points of the grooves being disposed opposite to each other, a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, a sleeve integral with the rotor periphcry and being slidably and rotatably mounted on the stator peripheries, said stators having inlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the outer stator faces to the remaining inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, a rotatable valve plate disposed at the outer face of each stator, a rotatable member enclosing the sleeve and connected thereto so as to be rotated thereby, said rotatable member also being connected to the valve plates, means for delivering a fluid under pressure to the valve plates, the latter opening the inlet and outlet passages in proper sequence as the valve plates are rotated by the rotatable member for causing the rotor to reciprocate, the inclined rotor portions contacting with the adjacent inclined stator portions for imparting a rotative movement to the rotor, said fluid delivering means including stationary valve plates contacting the rotary valve plates, each stationary valve plate having a circular inlet groove and a circular outlet groove, said rotary valve plates having openings communicating with the grooves and with the stator inlet and outlet passages in proper sequence, said fluid delivering means also including valve controlled inlet pipes communicating with the inlet grooves, a frame, and a shaft carried by the frame and passing through the rotor, the stators, and the rotatable and stationary valve plates, said shaft being held against rotation and holding the stators and stationary valve plates from rotating.

'7. A rotary fluid motor comprising a pair of spaced apart and axially aligned stators having V-shaped and radially extending grooves on their opposed faces, the high points of the grooves in the two stators being disposed substantially opposite to each other, a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, said stators having inlet passages leading to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the other inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, means including valves for directing a fluid under pressure into the inlet passage and against the rotor faces for moving the rotor longitudinally from a position in close proximity to one stator face into a position in close proximity to the other stator face that inclined at substantially the same angle as the first-mentioned stator face, certain of the inclined surfaces of the rotor grooves bearing against cooperating inclined surfaces of the stator toward which the rotor is moving, whereby the rotor will be rotated through an are about the stator and rotor axis, a drum rotatably enclosing the stators, and means interconnecting the rotor with the drum for causing a rotation of the former to rotate the latter, the drum being connected with the valves for operating them.

8. A rotary fluid motor comprising a pair of spaced apart and axially aligned stators having V-shaped and radially extending grooves on their opposed faces, the high points of the grooves in the two stators being disposed substantially opposite to each other, a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, said stators having inlet passages leading to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the other inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, means for directing a fluid under pressure into the inlet passages and against the rotor faces for moving the rotor longitudinally from a position in close proximity to one stator face into a position in close proximity to the other stator face that is inclined at substantially the same angle as the first-mentioned stator face, certain of the inclined surfaces of the rotor grooves bearing against cooperating inclined surfaces of the stator toward which the rotor is moving, whereby the rotor will be rotated through an are about the stator and rotor axis, a drum rotata'bly enclosing the stators, and means interconnecting the rotor with the drum for causing a rotation of the former to rotate the latter, said last-named means including a sleeve integral with the rotor and rotatably and reciprocably mounted on the stators, and connections between the sleeveand drum for rotating the drum with the sleeve'without reciprocating the drum.

9. A rotary fluid motor comprising a pair of spaced apart and axially aligned stators having V-shaped and radially extending grooves on their opposed faces, the high points of the grooves in the two stators being disposed substantially op,-

posite to each other, a rotor placed between the stators and having grooves on both faces complemental to the adjacent stator grooves, said stators having inlet passages leading to alternate inclined portions on the grooved stator faces and having outlet passages leading from the other inclined portions on the grooved stator faces, means including valves for directing a fluid under pressure into the inlet passages and against the rotor faces for moving the rotor longitudinally from a position in close proximity to one stator face into a position in close proximity to the other stator face that is inclined at substantially the same angle as the first-mentioned stator face, certain of the inclined surfaces of the rotor grooves bearing against cooperating inclined surfaces of the stator toward which the rotor is moving, whereby the rotor will be rotated through an are about the stator and rotor axis, a drum rotatably enclosing the stators, and means interconnecting the rotor with the drum for causing a rotation of the former to rotate the REFERENCES (HTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 686,809 Jaeger Nov. 19, 1901 908,916 Weinat Jan. 5, 1909 1,114,132 Gehrandt Oct. 20, 1914 1,198,343 Gillespie Sept. 12, 1916 2,095,255 Holmes Oct. 12, 1937 2,316,107 Ruben Apr. 6, 1943 

